You would be hard pressed to find someone more deserving of this year’s POTY honor than Jim Furyk. Despite going through some struggles over the past 2 seasons, Furyk came into 2010 knowing that he had what it took to win again. In his last event of 2009, the Chevron World Challenge, Furyk finally broke his win-less stretch by birdieing the final hole to claim the prize. Although the victory didn’t go down in the books as an official tour win, the confidence that he had lacked over the past couple of seasons seemed to suddenly reappear out of nowhere that week…. and the $1.3 million purse he claimed, although unofficial tour money for 2009, would spend just as easily as all of the other official first-place checks he had cashed throughout his career.
Most importantly, he had proven that he could still win.
That unofficial win back near the end of last season would be the catalyst for what would lie ahead for Furyk in 2010. Back in March, Jim would validate his new-found confidence in the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook Resort in Florida, finally getting that “official” win that he had been chasing for over two years. Less than a month later, Furyk would pick up his second win of the season at the Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head, SC. And, of course, who can forget the grinding performance on Sunday at East Lake in the Tour Championship, in some of the worst conditions the players had seen all season. His clutch bunker-shot on the 72nd hole of the tournament would seal the deal, more than one deal in the end – winning his 3rd tournament of the season, winning the $10 million FedEx Cup Playoffs, and ultimately guaranteeing him the honor that has been bestowed upon him this week – Player of the Year.
Congrats to Jim Furyk, this year’s PGA Tour Player of the Year! Well done, Jimmy!
Scott's Golf Blog 